The rear tail panel is different which will require cutting and welding in a panel for the 66. It'll be interesting what others might say, I say do what you wanna do

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I always liked the 66 front end and 67 tail. If you were me, your job would be easier. The 67 front end is too flat in my opinion but I've met plenty who disagree.

 

I have always liked the 66 front and 67 back, seen one at a car show a number of years back. It’s your car do to it as you please, who cares what anyone else thinks.

 

Your car, your time and money...your call.

 

i like the looks of the 66 & 68 better than the 67.
i've had all 3 anyways

 

I want to change one to a 48 Chevy Coupe.

 

I'm storing a 40 coupe in my yard for a buddy who's looking to sell it. If you're interested, Dean, I'll send you some pics.

 

Anything can be swapped out with enough time & money, but to change the rear panel requires major metal work like Crazychevelle said above. It's not a Saturday afternoon project. I was planning to do this to my first '67 when I bought it as a 19y/o, but as soon as I got the car home, I realized the rear taillights housings are totally different & the tail panel would have to be cut off. That idea ended quickly.

Another thing to consider is the future resale value of the car. If you do this, the car will always be a '67 with an incorrect front end & tail lights. Even if you built it as a show car, you'll never be able to sell it for what it would be worth to you.

 

I have no intent to sell it if it comes out the way I want it. But even if I sold it, as a 67, I would think if I advertised it as a 66 (but explain it is a 67 and the pink slip won't lie), I would get a lot more inquires on it.

 

Have you looked at 1966 Pontiac Beaumont tail light housings?
The lens wraps around the extension housing. Different look.

 

I think the Beaumont taillights would be cool, but aren’t they made of unobtainium?

 

The 66 tail panels are available aftermarket ( under $150?) , but the quarter end caps you’ll need to find used parts, although 4door caps will interchange with 2 doors.

as for the front, basically the entire front clip will swap, but don’t forget the radiator support panel...

trunk lids are basically the same (trim and emblem differences).

 

not unobatinium in canadia..EH. Saw a set on E-Slay a.few days ago. Not the cheapest, then getting the tail panel trim of course was extra.

 

You'd be spending a lot of $$ to devalue your car. Money that can be used to install a strong rearend and 5 speed trans, just to mention two better ways.

 

The donor car has a mashed in front end. Needs interior, engine, trans, rear end.... the back half is good except missing the bumper. I haven't bought it yet. I needed to find out how hard and how much it will cost to do. I have a ton of time and ounces of money.

 

I like both years but prefer a 67 more. The prices on some of these nice ones is going through the roof lately.

 

When I had my 66 in 1986, there was a kid by my g/f's house that had a 67 w/66 front clip. Everything fit fine, bad but of course I knew it was odd. Not sure if the kid really cared. He was not a car guy. This car was just his high school transportation.

 

If you're going to Frankenvelle a 67, why not go a step further and take some design queues from the Ring Brother's Chevelle?

The Ringbrothers Recoil is the world's baddest Chevelle

 

If you're going to Frankenvelle a 67, why not go a step further and take some design queues from the Ring Brother's Chevelle?

The Ringbrothers Recoil is the world's baddest Chevelle

That car is god awful.

 

You have a better chance of winning the lotto than you do to find a complete 66 front clip that's in usable condition that also happens to be the same color as your 67....so you'd need to plan on buying a new front clip from AMD or wherever. So however much the front clip would cost, plus welding in a 66 tail panel, plus having the car painted, plus all the small parts like tail light housings, grille, headlight bezels, trim pieces, the list goes on....there's simply no way this would be cost-effective. You'd come out way ahead if you just sold the 67 and bought a 66. Or if you don't own one yet, wait until a 66 comes up and buy that.

Even if you find a decent 66 that isn't local that you'd have to haul home or have it shipped, you'd still come out ahead.

 

Finding a complete 66 front clip will be difficult, and if I found one that wasn't the right color, that's what paint is for. But they have every part online and some parts are interchangeable.
I've looked for a clean 66 and can't find one that I like that is within my budget. I have more time that money. So doing the conversion saves me money.

 

When I bought my 66 about 40 years ago I was looking for a 67 and settled because I couldn't find the right one. I would never change one to a different year just for looks. The 67 is beautiful and so is the 66. Is this your forever car? Any chance your taste will change in the future?

 

It would be my forever car. I have a friend that has a '66 4 door that is 75% rusted out. The back half is the only thing still good on it.

 

People do this all the time with the 1970, 1971 and 1072’s. Your car do as you want.

 

I'm looking to covert a 67 Chevelle to a 66 Chevelle. I love the 66 front end and tail lights and not the 67's. The body is the same, so I'm thinking about changing them.
I believe the frontend clip (fenders, hood, bumper and grill) will just bolt up. But what about the tail lights? Is this going to be something that needs cutting and fabricating?
Has anyone ever done this and is it hard?
The reason why I'm thinking of doing this (other than I like the 66 better) rather then just buying a 66, is that there are a lot of 67's and very few 66's.
Thank you in advance.
Aaron

Why don’t you sell what you have and buy what you want? Don’t butcher!

 

IMO, That’s tough. IF the OP doesn’t have the funds to purchase a 66 outright, then he’d have to sell the 67 first, with no guarantee he’d be able to find a replacement within his budget.

sure, in theory he could sell/ buy for the same price, but easier said than done.

And of course, he’ll still need to find the front clip.
I saw JimMac (one of our members) was offering a 66 front clip for $400 a few weeks ago...

 

Why?????

 

As long as these cars are saved from rotting on farms or junk yards it's a win IMO. Guys transform these cars all the time into dragsters, gassers, restore mods, mudders, you name it. If everyone had the same looking vehicles it would be a pretty bland hobby, may as well just collect stamps. Is changing a 67 to a 66 very cost effective? Probably not but sometimes its less of a financial strain buying pieces as you go along than all at once. Also, there will always be a buyer.

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back in 1979 i came across a guy that had a slate/black 66ss original 396 auto,and a red/black 67ss 4spd with a 350.i bought the 66 as i wanted the 396.still have it.

 

Even if you have all the time in the world you'll still need a good chunk of money to buy new sheet metal, bumpers, grille, headlights and tail lights, and quite a bit of trim pieces and other small parts, not to mention all the supplies, materials, and probably tools you'll need to do all the bodywork and paint. I'm still not convinced you'll come out ahead, unless you're getting the wrecked '67 for free. It's easy to look up parts and prices on the web, so do the analysis and knock yourself out if that's really what you want to do.

Most of us here would probably agree that if you're patient, you can probably find a 66 that needs some TLC and spend around the same (probably less) by the time it's all said and done. And most of all, if you can find a 66 that at least starts, runs, and stops, then you could actually be driving and enjoying the 66 while you fix it up. YMMV here, but my opinion is that actually being able to get some time behind the wheel while you aren't wrenching on your car will more than make up for however much $$$ you think you'll save by converting the 67 to a 66.

Its your time and your money so do what makes you happy....I just find it difficult to imagine any scenario where this plan would make sense.